Federal judge sides with NH hospitals in their compensation argument with the state

CONCORD — A federal judge has sided with New Hampshire hospitals in their argument with the state over how much the hospitals are due for uncompensated care, which is usually the difference between Medicaid payments and hospitals’ true costs.

The ruling means there will be no immediate relief from the courts for a current budget deficit in the Department of Health and Human Services, and Gov. Chris Sununu may have to revise his budget for the next two fiscal years to pay hospitals more than he had hoped, unless the ruling is overturned on appeal or Congress changes the law.

Based on his reaction to the lawsuit, the governor is hoping for one of those two outcomes.

“The ruling is as expected,” Sununu spokesman David Abrams wrote in an email. “This is an ongoing issue and, though we will continue to receive clarity in the coming months, we are comfortable that the 2018-19 budget is appropriate.”

Read more: http://www.unionleader.com/Federal-judge-sides-with-NH-hospitals-over-compensation